Unauthorized stockings harm bullhead fishery

Friday

Nov 16, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Some fishermen just don't get it. Despite repeated warnings from N.C. Wildlife Resources biologists about the dangers of unauthorized fish stockings to established fisheries, these "bait bucket stockings" continue.

tony garitta

Some fishermen just don't get it. Despite repeated warnings from N.C. Wildlife Resources biologists about the dangers of unauthorized fish stockings to established fisheries, these "bait bucket stockings" continue.Lake Norman has spotted bass and hybrid bass, two species never stocked in the lake by the NCWRC. Spotted bass have appeared in western reservoirs once void of that species. Non-native species of baitfish have been dumped in lakes causing changes in the feeding habits of fish.Snail bullheads and flat bullheads, two species once found in abundance in the Yadkin River, are currently struggling to survive because of unauthorized stockings of non-native flathead catfish, a large predator that dines largely upon the smaller bullheads.NCWRC biologists recently conducted electro-fishing surveys in Surry, Yadkin, and Wilkes counties and discovered that bullhead catch rates near Elkin have declined from 120 fish collected per hour in 2005 to less than three fish collected per hour in 2012. Bullhead catch rates have also declined in the Ronda community.Bullheads have disappeared in the Yadkin River below Idols Dam near Winston-Salem since the 1980s because of the presence of flathead catfish in High Rock Lake, where flatheads were introduced years ago.Idols Dam previously served as a barrier to keep flatheads out of the upper Yadkin, but now that area has been breached by unauthorized introductions, causing a decline in bullheads.Studies indicate bullheads decline in numbers whenever flatheads are present."Sharp declines in bullhead abundance have been documented in other river systems in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast where flatheads have been introduced," said NCWRC biologist Kin Hodges.Since flatheads are not native to N.C. waters east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, biologists believe anglers after bigger fish planted the flatheads elsewhere.While catching large flatheads may seem desirable, fishing may suffer for some since flatheads are harder to catch than bullheads."For starters, like most catfishes, bullheads are generalist feeders that can be easily caught by bottom fishing with almost any sort of natural bait, while flathead catfish primarily feed on live fish," said Hodges. "This makes flatheads less likely to be caught by anglers using traditional catfish baits such as night crawlers, shrimp, cut bait, chicken livers, and other popular catfish baits."Once unauthorized stockings take place in waters, little can be done to correct the situation.In 2005, the NCWRC passed a regulation that inland fish stockings would require a permit and that unauthorized stockings are illegal."The introduction of exotic fish species into North Carolina waters is among the most significant threats to populations of both game fish and non-game fish alike," said Hodges.Craig Cooper of Cooper's Marine LLC held his annual Friends of Craig Striper Tournament recently at Kerr Lake.According to two of Craig's friends, Jim Karriker of High Point and Neil Clark of Holly Grove Gulf, only one keeper striper was caught at the event."Plenty of small stripers were caught," said Clark, "but only one met the minimum length requirement."Nate Quan and Chad Grimm won the Oct. 20 Carolina Crappie Association tournament at Blewett Falls Lake with 9.50 pounds and collected $1,512. They also claimed the big-fish prize of $182 with a 2.31-pound crappie.Kevin Hawkins of Ramseur and Wayne Neice of Biscoe finished second with 9.36 pounds and earned $733. The Concord team of Ed Duke and Keith Manus placed third with 9.30 pounds and banked $369. David and Phenice Perrel of Germanton ranked fourth with 8.88 pounds and shared $319.Phillip Barnhardt and Matt Hager took the fifth-place prize of $235 with 8.25 pounds. The S.C. team of Dennis Morgan and Nelson Henderson came in sixth with 8.20 pounds, winning $168.The Bassmaster Weekend Series has tournaments scheduled for April 6 at High Rock Lake out of Tamarac Marina; May 25 at Kerr Lake out of Nutbush Creek; June 29 at Lake Norman out of Midway Marina; July 27 at Lake Wylie out of Ebenezer; and Sept. 14-15 at High Rock Lake out of Tamarac Marina. Visit www.americanbassanglers.com.The Nov. 17 Fishers of Men Fall Club Tournament has been moved from Badin Lake to High Rock Lake out of Tamarac Marina.Tony Garitta is a fishing columnist for The Dispatch.